Review:Lovers of history and interesting words will adore this book, and even the most casual reader will find it easy to read. I read The Meaning of Everything over the course of three days while on vacation, and although it isn't what I would call "beach reading" it was light and fun.

Winchester seems to have a good sense of when to move on to a new idea, which is part of what makes this so painless to read. There's no belaboring any points.

Also, there's an abundance of interesting sid... Read more

Review:Simon Winchester tells a story . . . a history of a happening . . . (perhaps) like no other. Who would think that the history of the making of the Oxford English Dictionary would be a 'page turner.' The research and thought that Winchester has put into this book is mind-boggling, but it is unique way of telling the story, weaving time, place and characters that makes this a remarkable story.
Wan'na read a good book? Have at it. Read more

Review:This is a great book--both engaging and informative. The tragic story of the madman is compelling and the book sums up with the paradox of this tragic man's contribution to those of us who love words and their meanings. It is read by the author, and so the the recording has the flow of someone speaking naturally instead of a book being read. Great! Read more

Review:PERFECT.

Came in the mail very quickly, and in EXCELLENT condition. Yes, it's huge. But that is to be expected with the amount of information in it. Giving it to my boyfriend for a christmas present. It's a must have for any law student! :) Highly recommend. Read more

Review:This is slightly shorter and thicker than New World Pocket Dictionary, which my 11 year-old son claimed "perfect size". It has some distinct features that we liked: 1. Pronunciations provided 2. Words with self-evident prefix are listed separately at the bottom of pages, which make true "new" words easier to spot. 3. Pages have rounded corners (think of iPhone), thus less prone to being creased. 4. It does have 40000 words, about 100 per page, a good overall size. 5. Less words on one page make... Read more